AN ACT relating to diplomas.
Amend KRS 158.140 to establish a technical diploma, consisting of two years of high school courses in basic academic areas and two years of vocational technical education in one or more marketable skill areas that may be awarded in lieu of a high school diploma; require the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative regulations for the technical diploma based on recommendations from the Kentucky Department of Education by January 1, 2000; require the department to establish a task force composed of representatives from the Cabinet for Workforce Development, vocational rehabilitation, parents of children with disabilities, students with disabilities, representatives from business and industry, and teachers to recommend the specific criteria; provide for a statewide review of the proposed criteria; develop an option for students who have dropped out of school to be able to demonstrate competency in the basic academic areas; and require the department to communicate the requirements of the technical diploma to postsecondary institutions; require that the postsecondary institutions accept the technical diploma as an acceptable high school credential for entry into postsecondary programs; and by deleting language relating to vocational certificate.